MISSING. WE ARE COUNTING DOWN TO JUNETEENTH, A DAY TO REMEMBER THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE U.S. JUNE 19TH, 1865 IS WHEN THE LAST SLAVES LEARNED THEY WERE FREE PEOPLE ACROSS THE METRO ARE REFLECTING ON THAT PART OF HISTORY. EARLY KMBC NINE’S TERESA WHITE LIVE AT THE SCREEN LINE ARMOR THEATER UP IN NORTH KANSAS CITY, WHERE BLACK FILMMAKERS ARE BEING CELEBRATED. TERESA. WELL, ALTHOUGH JUNETEENTH ISN’T HERE, THEATERS ARE STILL CELEBRATING EARLY. THE JUNETEENTH FILM FESTIVAL HAS RETURNED TO KANSAS CITY FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. THERE IS AN AUDIENCE FOR LOCAL FILMMAKERS. THERE’S AN AUDIENCE FOR BLACK FILMMAKERS AND THE STORIES THAT THEY HAVE TO TELL AND THE PERSPECTIVES THAT THEY CAN SHARE. I CAN’T GO ANYWHERE. THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL PRIMARILY FEATURES FILMS WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY KANSAS CITIZENS LIKE FILMMAKER PAUL RAYFORD, WHOSE FILM THE PISTOL PREMIERES AT THE FILM FESTIVAL TOMORROW. I MEAN, THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. IT GIVES PEOPLE WHO ORDINARILY MIGHT NOT HAVE A PLATFORM, A PLATFORM. OUR STORY IS ONE THAT’S UNIQUE. IT’S DEFINITELY ONE THAT IS CAPTIVATING. EACH OF THE FILMMAKERS IN THE FESTIVAL SAYS THIS IS HISTORY IN THE MAKING. SEEING PEOPLE WITH DARK SKINNED WOMEN THAT LOOK LIKE ME ON FILM ARE JUST VERY, VERY POWERFUL. JUNETEENTH IS THE PERFECT SITUATION TO SHOW FILMS ABOUT BLACK CULTURE. YOUNG FILMMAKER MYSELF. SO I’M INSPIRED BY MY OWN WORK MYSELF. IF YOU MISSED TONIGHT, THE FILM FESTIVAL ENDS ON JUNE 26, REPORTING LIVE IN NORTH KANSAS CITY. DARRIUS WHITE KMBC NINE NEWS AND YOU CAN FIND THE FULL SCHEDULE ON SCREENLAND. COM THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER EVENTS IN THE METRO LEADING UP TO JUNETEENTH. THE JOHNSON COUNTY ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTER IS HOSTING ITS JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATION AND CELEBRATION THIS SATURDAY. THERE WILL BE FAMILY ACTIVITIES, MUSIC AND FOOD. 18TH AND VINE WILL HAVE THEIR HERITAGE FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH. THERE WILL BE EVERYTHING FROM FACE PAINTERS TO B
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Kansas City area marks Juneteenth with parades, festivals and historic tributes
Updated: 5:29 PM CDT Jun 3, 2025
Cities around the Kansas City region are preparing to mark Juneteenth with celebrations. Juneteenth, which is now a federal holiday, marks the day in 1865 when the final group of slaves in Texas learned they had been freed. It is celebrated on June 19. Here are some events across the metro area. Kansas City – JuneteenthKC – 8th Annual Cultural ParadeJuneteenthKC – 8th Annual Cultural ParadeLocation: 18th and Vine Historic Jazz DistrictDate: Saturday, June 7Time: Parade begins at noon Parade route:18th and Vine to 18th and Highland18th and Highland to 18th and Woodland18th and Woodland to 18th and Michigan18th and Michigan to 18th and Euclid Liberty – 25th Annual Juneteenth CelebrationLocations: Garrison School Cultural Center, Ruth Moore Park, Liberty SquareDates: Friday–Saturday, June 6–7Friday, June 610:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. – Garrison Museum open house6:30 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. – Comedy shows with Guy Torry (tickets $25)Saturday, June 79:00–11:00 a.m. – Museum tours12:00 p.m. – Will Smith Marker dedication at Ruth Moore Park1:00 p.m. – Community parade through downtown3:30 p.m. – Gospel concert, youth education, and scholarshipsInformal discussion with Guy Torry follows at 3-Halves RestaurantVendors, food, and activities throughout Liberty SquareSt. Joseph – Juneteenth Festival SeriesVarious LocationsDates: June 13–22June 13–15 – Our Town theater performance at Missouri TheaterJune 15 – 3-Point Shootout at Bartlett CenterJune 19 – Evening Juneteenth GalaJune 20–21 – Family Festival with live music, bounce houses, petting zoo, balloon animals, and vendorsJune 21, 10:00 a.m. – Juneteenth Parade (Bode Middle School to Bartlett Center)June 21 – Fashion show following the paradeJune 22 – Free community picnic with a catered mealOverland Park – Prairiefire Juneteenth CelebrationLocation: 135th & NallDate: Saturday, June 14Time: 7:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.7:30 a.m. – Freedom Run 5K (check-in at 6:30 a.m.)9:00 a.m. – Vendor booths open9:30 a.m. – Parade featuring local bands and performers10:30 a.m. – Kids’ games, fire truck, face painting10:45 a.m. – DJ, spoken word, music, and dance performancesFamily-oriented and free to attend Weston – Juneteenth Heritage JubileeLocation: Weston Red Barn Farm, 16300 Wilkerson RdDate: Saturday, June 14Time: 10:30 a.m. doors open, program 11:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.Live jazz music and African drum and dance“The Neighbors of Blackhawk Street” multimedia history presentationStorytelling, poetry, art performancesFree BBQ lunch provided by Weston Rotary ClubLocal vendors, artisan market, and educational boothsFree and open to all agesKansas City, Kansas – Juneteenth Early Morning YogaLocation: Quindaro Park at 3345 Sewell Avenue in KCKDate: Thursday, June 19Time: 6:30 a.m. Kansas City – The Hope CenterLocation: 2800 E. Linwood BlvdDate: Thursday, June 19Time: 4:30–7:30 p.m.Live entertainment by local artistsJuneteenth trivia and guest speakersFamily-friendly activities: inflatables and petting zooStudent and local vendorsFood and T-shirts available for purchaseFree and open to the publicKansas City – 14th Annual Heritage FestivalLocation: 18th and Vine Historic Jazz DistrictDate: Saturday, June 21Time: Noon to 10 p.m.Attractions include live music, food vendors, historical exhibits and family activities
Cities around the Kansas City region are preparing to mark Juneteenth with celebrations.
Juneteenth, which is now a federal holiday, marks the day in 1865 when the final group of slaves in Texas learned they had been freed.
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It is celebrated on June 19.
Here are some events across the metro area.
Kansas City – JuneteenthKC – 8th Annual Cultural Parade
JuneteenthKC – 8th Annual Cultural Parade
Location: 18th and Vine Historic Jazz District
Date: Saturday, June 7
Time: Parade begins at noon
Parade route:
- 18th and Vine to 18th and Highland
- 18th and Highland to 18th and Woodland
- 18th and Woodland to 18th and Michigan
- 18th and Michigan to 18th and Euclid
Liberty – 25th Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Locations: Garrison School Cultural Center, Ruth Moore Park, Liberty Square
Dates: Friday–Saturday, June 6–7
Friday, June 6
- 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. – Garrison Museum open house
- 6:30 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. – Comedy shows with Guy Torry (tickets $25)
Saturday, June 7
- 9:00–11:00 a.m. – Museum tours
- 12:00 p.m. – Will Smith Marker dedication at Ruth Moore Park
- 1:00 p.m. – Community parade through downtown
- 3:30 p.m. – Gospel concert, youth education, and scholarships
- Informal discussion with Guy Torry follows at 3-Halves Restaurant
- Vendors, food, and activities throughout Liberty Square
St. Joseph – Juneteenth Festival Series
Various Locations
Dates: June 13–22
- June 13–15 – Our Town theater performance at Missouri Theater
- June 15 – 3-Point Shootout at Bartlett Center
- June 19 – Evening Juneteenth Gala
- June 20–21 – Family Festival with live music, bounce houses, petting zoo, balloon animals, and vendors
- June 21, 10:00 a.m. – Juneteenth Parade (Bode Middle School to Bartlett Center)
- June 21 – Fashion show following the parade
- June 22 – Free community picnic with a catered meal
Overland Park – Prairiefire Juneteenth Celebration
Location: 135th & Nall
Date: Saturday, June 14
Time: 7:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
- 7:30 a.m. – Freedom Run 5K (check-in at 6:30 a.m.)
- 9:00 a.m. – Vendor booths open
- 9:30 a.m. – Parade featuring local bands and performers
- 10:30 a.m. – Kids’ games, fire truck, face painting
- 10:45 a.m. – DJ, spoken word, music, and dance performances
- Family-oriented and free to attend
Weston – Juneteenth Heritage Jubilee
Location: Weston Red Barn Farm, 16300 Wilkerson Rd
Date: Saturday, June 14
Time: 10:30 a.m. doors open, program 11:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Live jazz music and African drum and dance
- “The Neighbors of Blackhawk Street” multimedia history presentation
- Storytelling, poetry, art performances
- Free BBQ lunch provided by Weston Rotary Club
- Local vendors, artisan market, and educational booths
- Free and open to all ages
Kansas City, Kansas – Juneteenth Early Morning Yoga
Location: Quindaro Park at 3345 Sewell Avenue in KCK
Date: Thursday, June 19
Time: 6:30 a.m.
Kansas City – The Hope Center
Location: 2800 E. Linwood Blvd
Date: Thursday, June 19
Time: 4:30–7:30 p.m.
- Live entertainment by local artists
- Juneteenth trivia and guest speakers
- Family-friendly activities: inflatables and petting zoo
- Student and local vendors
- Food and T-shirts available for purchase
- Free and open to the public
Kansas City – 14th Annual Heritage Festival
Location: 18th and Vine Historic Jazz District
Date: Saturday, June 21
Time: Noon to 10 p.m.
- Attractions include live music, food vendors, historical exhibits and family activities
Check out was real simple, can't wait for the tote bag